Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 21: Opposition Congress legislator from Umsning Dr Celestine Lyngdoh questioned the failure of the state police to detect illegal coal trucks.

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“If our police are so efficient in detecting small amounts of drugs I fail to understand why they fail to detect a 16-wheeler truck (carrying illegal coal),” Lyngdoh told the Assembly.

“Can we ask do the police want to be selective (as in which area they want to be efficient)? If they are efficient in every area they are posted, I still fail to understand why big trucks cannot be detected?” he said.

Lyngdoh also sought to know the revenue collected from coal during the last year and said, “I urge the government to start scientific mining of coal in the interest of the state.”

Stating that he is not against the coal merchants, the Congress leader said, “I salute them. At a time when the state is facing a lot of employment issues, we are happy that certain groups of people managed to do some mining activities and provide some sort of employment but then the question has to be answered can we continue this, can we allow a group of people do illegal business at the cost of the state?”

Citing that his constituency is located along the national highway, Lyngdoh said, “If the government say there is no illegal mining it will be very difficult for me and my people to say there is no transportation of coal as we see it every day. But the question is how many of those trucks are illegal and how many are legal.”

With regards to the border issue, Lyngdoh said there are six more remaining areas of difference.

He said that much has been learned from the first phase of border talks while alleging that the government had given a fish pond at Maikhuli which was never an area of difference, to Assam.

Lyngdoh sad, therefore, the government should exchange only areas of difference but not to land which are never under dispute.

Meanwhile, the Congress leader urged the Speaker not to allow such incidents as yesterday to take place in the House where four legislators of the VPP had to stage of a walkout in protest against the Governor for addressing in Hindi.

“Since the BJP is in the union government, I request through you that when they appoint a governor, he should have a working knowledge of English when posted in Meghalaya,” he added.

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 12: The Junior Chamber International (JCI) Shillong Pinecity celebrated Women’s Day at Prime Hub Meghalaya yesterday where women’s health and well – being were the main themes of the event.

Three accomplished women were invited to speak as guests as a part of the subject which included Shaidalin Marbaniang, a renowned female entrepreneur who makes completely compostable sanitary napkins, Dr. Jagjeet Sethi, a renowned dermatologist from Hope Clinic, Shillong, and Dr. Kerlin Mihsill, a renowned gynaecologist from Hope Clinic, Shillong.

The three notable speakers shared their personal and professional life experiences and well as their vision for women folk.

In addition to Dr. Sethi and Marbaniang educating the audience about women’s hygiene, well-being, and strategies to deal with medical issues, Dr. Mihsill gave a presentation on improving women’s health. The presentation was followed by an open forum where members and other guests put up questions which the speakers provided better understanding about the health and wellbeing of women.

It may be noted here that JCI Shillong Pinecity is the local branch of Junior Chamber International (JCI), a global non-profit organisation dedicated to developing young, engaged citizens and leaders. JCI operates by empowering its members to make a good, long-lasting difference in their local communities.